Last Saturday, September 26, the Redemptorist Spirituality Course, in its Spanish and Portuguese edition, concluded after three weeks of journeying toward the sources of the charism of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. The Eucharistic celebration at the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rome, presided over by Fr. Krzysztof Dworak, and the presentation of completion certificates provided a solemn moment of thanksgiving to God for the gift of this shared pilgrimage.
A path to the roots of charisma
“The journey through the places linked to St. Alphonsus and the beginnings of the Congregation allows us to rediscover the experience and the founding spiritual heritage,” explains Fr. Krzysztof Dworak, C.Ss.R., director of the Redemptorist Spirituality Center at the General Curia. It is a shared journey that involves confreres, lay people, and religious sisters connected to the Redemptorist family, accompanying the spiritual growth of the various provinces. Fr. Dworak recalls that the initiative to institute this spiritual pilgrimage arose from a directive of the 1988 Chapter, designed to respond to the need to nourish the interior life and live one’s faith and charism in a more deeply rooted way.
The voices of the participants
When asked about their experience over these three weeks, the course participants had no doubts about the value of this time spent together.
“Going to the founding places is a return, a revival, a strengthening, yes, a re-establishing of those vocational actions in my life,” says Fr. Alí Villegas, C.Ss.R., from Venezuela (Andean-Caribbean Province). “For me, it has been a great spiritual moment because it fosters and strengthens that communion and that love for the Congregation, for the vocation, for St. Alphonsus, for St. Gerard.”
For Fr. Jorge Cardozo, C.Ss.R., from Argentina (Pedro Donders Province), the spirituality course was an experience of fraternity: “Feeling like family with so many people, confreres from different places, from different countries, and sharing with them.” The pilgrimage to the historical origins of the Congregation was also an impetus for him to pray for new vocations: “I invite everyone to continue praying that the Lord, God of Mercy, may continue to give us more missionaries, more brothers, more priests throughout the Redemptorist religious family.”
“I especially wanted to get closer to the great Saint Gerard, who, because of his simplicity and dedication, is a great example for me,” confesses Fr. Manolo Redondo, C.Ss.R., from Spain (Europe South Province), who this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
“This spirituality course is a renewal, both spiritually and in our Redemptorist life,” says Fr. Rosivaldo Motta, from Brazil (Aparecida Province). “It’s one thing to learn from the books, and another to come to the place, to the historical sites where it all happened: to get to know St. Alphonsus more closely, the traces left by St. Gerard, and those of our saints.”
There were also words of gratitude from both the participants and the organizers: “We thank all the participants of this course, and all the collaborators who contributed to making this possible, and obviously also our General Government,” said Fr. Dworak, who has already announced next year’s spirituality course.
Pilgrimage within the heart
Visiting the historical sites and listening to the lectures on the beginnings of the Congregation, deepening our understanding of the charism and missionary dynamism of the first generations of Redemptorists, was truly an opportunity for a spiritual journey. Cintia Cajal, from Salta, Argentina, a lay missionary of the Most Holy Redeemer, shares this experience:
“Sometimes it seems as if life celebrates and dances with us, keeping time with our heartbeats. And that’s how I experienced these days during the Redemptorist Spirituality Course. The pilgrims walk, always trusting in the faithful and provident love of our Father God. They carry within them stories, some joyfully celebrated and others lived with the intensity that pain brings. It’s all part of the journey.”
Going deep within our hearts to rediscover the roots of our charism encouraged us to return to the experience of redemption and our individual calling. Geographical landscapes, historical sites, and especially the figures of those who founded the CSsR provided the framework that accompanied and enriched our encounter with the God who once captivated us.
With attentive listening and empathy, we accompany our brothers and sisters on their journey, learning about the realities of each Province. We share the path they travelled before the restructuring and the challenges they face today. I believe in God’s faithfulness throughout our stories, for in this inner pilgrimage we rediscover God’s tenderness.
I give thanks to God for each of the brothers and sisters. Their presence, closeness, and fraternity made clear the way in which St. Alphonsus invited us to live so many years ago. Each Eucharist was a celebration of God’s redeeming love in our lives, to be shared and given to the poorest among us.
Allowing ourselves to be surprised, to be moved, to share experiences, to laugh together, and to enjoy the cool breeze of Ciorani after dinner were ingredients that forged bonds and enriched these days. With grateful memory, I can say with certainty that allowing ourselves to be surprised and found by the God of Life, and by the serene and maternal presence of our Mother of Perpetual Help, was the best way to inward journey.
GR / Scala News
